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7 SURPRISING WAYS TO DRIVE HAPPINESS IN THE OFFICE Happy workers are 12 more productive1 and stress less at work Here s how to help your colleagues feel more positive Actively helping your colleagues feel good not only creates a better company culture it can help everyone feel valued which means they re more likely to stick around too While hiring Chief Happiness Officers yes they exist at Google may not fit into every company s budget here are seven ways to drive positivity no matter your job title 1 CHAMPION YOUR COLLEAGUES STRENGTHS A study by Globoforce2 a workforce research institute found that 83 of employees who were recognised for their performance reported a positive work experience overall Make an effort to promote other people s strengths instead of focusing on weaknesses Whether it s an email shout out or heroing them in a meeting public praise can increase your colleague s sense of value and as a result their happiness at work 2 USE POSITIVE LANGUAGE TO INSPIRE The words you use in the office could have a big impact on how you motivate and inspire others Language expert and author Darlene Price3 suggests using the word you more than I as this will help you directly include and address your listeners She also suggests making an effort to directly address your colleagues You ll not only help to increase their sense of self worth they are also more likely to view you as a thoughtful and caring person 3 VOLUNTEER AS A WORK MENTOR People who have a supervisor or colleague who genuinely cares about them are more productive and significantly more likely to remain at a company4 Ask your manager or HR team about setting up a mentor scheme in the office Mentors will get satisfaction from passing on their skills and experience while mentees will feel more positive having someone who genuinely cares about their wellbeing and progress 4 START A CLUB Whether it s a book or film club office sports team or even a packed lunch club creating more a of a community culture at work can make all the difference In fact employees rate the culture and values of a company as the most important factors in workplace happiness above pay and benefits SOURCES 1 Why happy employees are 12 more productive Fast Company 2015 https www fastcompany com 3048751 happy employees are 12 more productive at work 2 The Employee Experience Index a new global measure of a human workplace and its impact Globoforce 2017 http www globoforce com resources research reports evolution modern workplace 3 Darlene Price quoted in Words and Phrases That Inspire Motivate and Persuade at Work Forbes 2013 https www forbes com sites jacquelynsmith 2013 03 26 words and phrases that inspire motivate and persuade at work 3c90430b9569 4 3 uncommon ways to drive happiness in the workplace Fast Company 2014 https www fastcompany com 3038429 3 uncommon ways to drive happiness in the workplace

5 GIVE NEW STARTERS A WARM WELCOME 7 CREATE A WORK PLAYLIST Remember your first day at work Chances are the first interactions with your new colleagues had a huge effect on your initial happiness According to Fast Company5 making new employees feel welcome significantly increases their chances of staying too So whether it s a welcome lunch or friendly introductions to the extended team helping them become part of the company culture is a win win for everyone In a recent employee survey7 of 1 000 workers one in three said that music would help reduce stress Music has a huge impact on our mood but rather than plugging in pop on the radio or create a playlist of tunes that you and your colleagues can contribute to that way everyone is happy with the music choice Working in an open plan office Be mindful of the volume and colleagues on the phone 6 EASE INTO THE DAY How you feel in the morning can have a big impact on the rest of your day according to researchers at Ohio State University6 When analysing the moods and performance of customer service reps they found those who were in a happy calm mood in the morning tended to stay that way for the rest of the day Make a morning tea round together or chat about something other than work for the first five minutes of the day and this will help everyone start on a positive note SOURCES 5 5 ways to make new employees feel welcome Fast Company 2014 https www fastcompany com 3039232 5 ways to welcome your new employee to the workplace 6 Waking up on the right or wrong side of the bed start of workday mood work events employee affect and performance by University of Pennsylvania and The Ohio State University Academy of Management Journal 2014 http amj aom org content 54 5 959 abstract 7 Flexible working could reduce stress employees say by Marino Donati FM World November 2016 http www fm world co uk news fm industry news flexible working would reduce stress employees say